M is for Mexico A to Z Blog Challenge Read the World

Today let’s head south of the U.S. border and visit Mexico as we read the world for the A to Z April Blog Challenge. Here in the United States we are so close geographically to Mexico but unfortunately, so many people know very little about this beautiful country.

Off We Go to Mexico! An Adventure in the Sun
By Laurie Krebs (author) and Christopher Corr (illustrator)
Picture book for ages 4-8

This is a fun travelogue which follows a family as they swim, climb, sing, and dance through Mexico. The rhyming text includes Spanish words and phrases. The bright illustrations evoke Mexican folk art and shows the people, landscape, food, and more. The book includes a map and facts about Mexico.

Dear Primo: a Letter to My Cousin
By Duncan Tonatiuh  (author and illustrator)
picture book for ages 4-8

Charlie and Carlitos are cousins. Charlie lives in an urban city in the United States. Carlitos lives in rural Mexico. The book is composed of letters they exchange and the information they share about their homes, sports, food, and traditions. Through their letters they discover that although some things are different in their lives, they have much in common.

The illustrations are based on traditional Mixtec art and the book includes Spanish words. Since I live in an area where many children have relatives living in Mexico and other countries, this book provides a springboard for sharing traditions and customs from the places their families come from as well as realizing we’re all more alike than different.

In honor of National Library Week I’d like to share:

A Library for Juana: The World of Sor Juana Ines
by Pat Mora (author) and Beatriz Vidal(illustrator)
picture book biography

This is the true story of the 17^th century Mexican scholar and poet who lived from 1648 to 1695. As a young child, Juana Ines wanted a library more than anything. She begged to go to school so that she could learn to read. She never gave up and eventually went to Mexico to study where she had access to great libraries and collections of books. She went on to become a nun, a brilliant scholar, and a beloved poet. Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz was a brilliant woman that we should all know more about.

Have you ever traveled to Mexico?

I am a member of Pam’s Unconventional Alliance during the A to Z April Blog Challenge. I’d like to encourage you to visit the fabulous blogs of my Alliance teammates:

Pam at http://unconventionallibrarian.com/

Anna at www.wellhellohandbag.com.

Linda at http://publishingbones.com/blog/

Suzanna at www.onehooliemama.com